Adopo Scores 18 in 'Statement' Win for Pittsfield Boys

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- If Saturday's basketball matinee was of the cinematic variety, it's pretty clear what film the Pittsfield boys would have picked.
 
"The Avengers."
 
Amancho Adopo scored 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as the Generals won their 17th game with a 66-48 victory over Wahconah on Saturday.
 
The win evened the season series against the only team to beat Pittsfield this season and extended the Generals' seven-game winning streak with two games left in the regular season.
 
"The difference for us was coming out with the intensity we need," Pittsfield coach Steve Ray said. "The last time we played them, they didn't get our best game. We had been off -- not to make any excuses -- we had been off for a while, and we just came out flat.
 
"The boys went into this game really hoping that we'd get another chance at these guys and show them another side of ourselves."
 
Pittsfield (17-1) wasted no time sending its message. The hosts jumped out to a 12-3 lead with a game-opening run capped by an Adopo putback midway through the first quarter. 
 
The lead got to 21-7 when Jerry McDonough set up Alex Weber (15 points) for a 3-pointer early in the second quarter.
 
Wahconah (12-7) made a charge from there, closing to within 10 when Marcus Duncan put back a rebound and Kevin Boino hit a triple on back-to- back trips to make it 27-17. 
 
But Pittsfield closed the half on an 8-4 spurt that ended when Bryce Daley made a steal and got fouled in transition. He hit one free throw on his way to a 13-point, five-assist performance. 
 
Pittsfield's running game was a big difference all afternoon. 
 
"We got up and down the floor a lot faster than last time we played them," Ray said. "We didn't allow them to get set up as easily in that zone. 
 
"Our goal was to push the ball on them. It's something we were remiss in doing the first time we played them that was the difference for us."
 
Other differences: the post presence of Josh Bonny, who blocked one shot and altered many more, and the outside shooting of Weber and Daley, who combined for five 3s when Wahconah could set up its zone. 
 
Wahconah made one more big run in the third quarter, closing to within eight when Collin Parrott hit a 3 to make it 39-31.
 
But Pittsfield went on a 13-0 tear that ended with a six-point possession.
 
First, Wahconah was assessed consecutive technical fouls after committing a turnover. Weber hit three of four at the line, and on the ensuing possession, Chad Shade set up Adopo for a 3 to make it 52-31. 
 
Pittsfield looks to capture the city championship on Monday by completing a season sweep of rival Taconic before closing on Wednesday at Hoosac Valley, a team it beat, 70-68, earlier this month. 
 
"We think this is the toughest week of the year for us," Ray said. "I course it's nice to avenge our loss, but we've got no rest.
 
"If these guys can't up for these games, they picked the wrong sport. But they've got their own motivation now. Today was to let everyone know who the real Generals are. 
 
"I think it was important to them to make a statement."
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